First Book Blog - Education News & Stories

Tata Sons North America and First Book Distribute 35,000 books to New Jersey Communities

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15-year partnership reaches 550,000 book milestone, celebrates decade and a half of supporting educators and serving children in need MAHWAH, N.J., June 15, 2023 – Last week, Tata Sons North America and First Book successfully distributed more than 35,000 books to New Jersey educators. With nearly 200 educators in atte...

Kari Kurjiaka Named Project Director for Diverse Books for All Coalition; Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Joins the Coalition

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 25, 2023) – Kari Kurjiaka has been named project director for the national Diverse Books for All Coalition. Most recently, Kurjiaka served as senior manager of literacy & external affairs for Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, a founding member of the coalition. In addition, the Society o...

Nonprofits Join Forces to Expedite Access to Diverse and Affordable Children’s Books

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W.K. Kellogg Foundation Supports the Initiative with $1 Million Grant to First Book WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2022) – Twenty-seven nonprofits and membership organizations from across the U.S. are joining forces to tackle a common challenge that has impeded children’s literacy for decades: the lack of high-quality...

First Book and Room to Read Come Together to Distribute 30,000 Books in Dari and Pashto to Refugee and Immigrant Afghan Children

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The Collaboration Taps into Strengths of Each Organization to Answer this Critical Need September 8, 2022 (Washington D.C.) -- First Book, the largest online network of educators serving children in need, and Room to Read, the global education organization creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, to...

First Book and Education Researcher Susan Neuman Launch Groundbreaking Classroom Library Tool as Students Struggle to Access Literacy Rich Environments

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Educator Survey Spotlights Inequity and Financial Hurdles of Building an Engaging and Effective Classroom Library WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 17, 2022) – First Book , the largest online network of educators serving children in need, in partnership with literacy expert and education researcher Susan Neuman, is launching a...

First Book, an Innovative Leader in Education Equity, Releases Groundbreaking Research Illustrating the Impact of COVID-19 on Emotional Wellness of Students in Underserved Communities

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Nearly One Thousand Educators Participated; Report that over half (53%) of the students they serve struggle with their mental health . WASHINGTON, April 5, 2022—First Book, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring education equity for children living in poverty, today announced the results of a national survey de...

Disney Launches 10th Annual Magic of Storytelling Campaign in Collaboration with First Book

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This guest post was written by Allison Citino , Director, Communications, Games, Publishing and Merchandise. Calling all book lovers, storytellers, and magic makers! This week Disney kicked off its 10th Annual Magic of Storytelling campaign with First Book, a nonprofit organization that puts free or affordable books an...

First Book and Ashoka Join Forces with Swiss Haute Horlogerie Manufacturer Audemars Piguet to Launch Initiative to Inspire Youth as Changemakers

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Collaboration Will Equip Young People in Low-Income and Historically Excluded Communities with the Opportunities and Tools to Create Change Program Kicks Off with Actionable New Changemaking Resources for Educators January 18, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) – First Book, the largest online community of educators serving kids...

Actor, Comedian, And Author Kevin Hart to Visit Hometown For a Major Virtual Event With Philadelphia School District For Debut Children's Book MARCUS MAKES A MOVIE

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On Thursday, December 16, a virtual conversation between Kevin Hart and six students from his alma mater elementary school will stream to the entire Philadelphia School District. Random House, First Book to donate over 1,000 copies of Marcus Makes a Movie to Philadelphia schools. New York, NY (December 15, 2021) —In pa...

AFT Launches Multiyear, Multimillion-Dollar ‘Reading Opens the World’ Campaign to Spark the Love of Reading

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Multiyear literacy campaign aims to enhance reading instruction; engage parents, families, and communities; and distribute 1 million books to kids across the country WASHINGTON, D.C. — This holiday season, the American Federation of Teachers is launching a multiyear literacy campaign called “Reading Opens the World,” d...